” ….But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]! 41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; 42 There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:40-42)

This story about Mary and Martha reflects most of us as Christians. We are often too busy about many things without given much consideration to what is really necessary and most of all, what should be the priority. It’s very clear in the Scriptures that the first priority is to put God first in every area of life. And I believe the number one principle to effective Christian living is cultivating a daily habit of spending time at the Lord’s feet.

This is the one priority in a Christian life that opens every door!

God loves for us to come and fellowship with Him, Does He need our fellowship to be complete or be who He is? No, God does not need anything from us to make Him God, He is already complete and more than enough in every aspect! God simply enjoys our fellowship, just like a good earthly parent will be thrilled and delighted to spending time with their children.

The Lord enjoys spending intimate time with us. In fact, this is the primary reason He created us – To live in His presence and to enjoy the work of His hand. (Genesis 1:8 ~ Psalm 8:6) When Adam and Eve blew it because of their disobedience it brought sin into the scene and separated us from God.

But because of His love for us God devised another means of bringing us into His presence. He gave His best, He gave all that was ever possible to give to restore us back to Him, God sent His only Son to die on the cross, to shed His blood so that we could enter into the holy of holies and draw near to Him ANYTIME we desire!

And you know the most mysterious part? We are the beneficiary of it all! When we spend time with the Lord we discover His plans for us. We get His direction for our life. God gives us insights about the future (Jeremiah 33:3) He gives us His wisdom and releases His grace to accomplish our purpose in life. (“Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.”- Psalm 2:8). What more could anybody ask for us!?! How wonderful is His love for us!

God doesn’t want us to allow the busyness of life to steal from us His good plans for us. When we spend time at His feet, His Presence rest upon us. The Lord shepherds us. Imagine what that will do in your life! That is the favor of the Lord! That is what David meant, when he said, “Goodness and Mercy follow me.” (Psalm 23:6). Imagine the goodness and mercy of God going every where you go because you have made the choice to apply God’s wisdom, which is, to make Him your number one priority on your busy schedule list!

God on His side has flung all doors wide open into His throne room for us to come and REST and find HEALING and WHOLENESS in every area of life.

“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” (Hebrews 4:16)

The Lord tells us to come away from our busyness and find rest for our weary and famished soul!

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.”] (Matthew 11:28)